National 3D archery championship in Brandon this weekend

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 25/04/2019 (2571 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

By Chelsea Kemp

Hundreds of archers are hoping the odds will be in their favour at the 2019 Canadian Archery Nationals Indoor 3D Championships this weekend.

The event is a part of Archery Canada and is hosted by the Carberry Archers of Brandon.

This is the first time the indoor version of the national championship has taken place in Manitoba, event competitor and host Russ Danielson said. The province hosted the outdoor version in 2015.

The tournament can serve as a great introduction to the sport, Danielson said, as there will be many seasoned veterans on hand who are happy to share their knowledge and tips.

Danielson began practising archery as a hunter, and his love of the sport led him to begin entering competitions.

“It’s basically for anyone who likes to shoot a bow,” he said.

Indoor events can be difficult to train for, especially given that the competition takes place after a long, cold winter, because one needs to find a suitable area to shoot, Birtle competitor Tyler Wilson, 21, said.

“Lots of people do struggle at finding facilities they can shoot in,” Wilson said.

The mechanics of the sport are fairly straightforward, but with some proper teaching Wilson said one can easily pick up a bow.

He has competed in more than 10 national events since he began practising archery when he was eight years of age.

Competitions serve as a reunion with friends he has made in the sport over the years. Often, the only time they get to see each other is at the outdoor and indoor nationals.

“Usually, all the high-end archers go to all of them.”

Wilson has travelled as far as Woodstock, N.B., Yankton, S.D. and Las Vegas, Nev. for competitions.

Despite this experience and daily practice, he still gets nervous before competitions.

Part of the joy of the sport is the supportive community he has become a part of.

“It really is all about fun,” Wilson said.

He wants to see new archers out on the range helping keep the community growing.

There is a myth about the sport being centred on competition that can intimidate people new to the sport, Wilson said, adding that the focus is largely on having fun.

This weekend’s national event will feature approximately 17 categories for youth, juniors and adults to compete in based on the archery equipment they use and the yardage they shoot.

During the shoot, foam animals are visible for archers. The targets are marked, indicating which animals competitors are required to shoot. Archers shoot from a marker line with each other at the offset targets.

Everyone will shoot a total of 80 targets over the weekend, releasing between 20 and 26 arrows each round.

The archer with the highest score wins the championship. Points are awarded based on where the arrow hits the target, 11 points for centre shot, with the respective outer rings worth 10, 8 and 5 points. No points are awarded for a missed target.

Three rooms will feature competitions, one for practice shoots, and three courses laid out in the City Centre Room and Manitoba Room in the Keystone Centre.

The groups has been promoting the event to raise interest in archery and encourage athletes to try out the sport.

“It’s a great way to just get out shoot your bow and get more experience, more practise,” Danielson said. “It’s a lot easier to get into and do then people actually think.”

The tournament runs from April 26 to 28. Nationals is $145 to enter as a competitor. A Vegas Style Paper Shoot will also be available. The event is free for audiences to attend.

» ckemp@brandonsun.com

» Twitter: @The_ChelseaKemp